To make a cereal bird feeder with kids, you'll thread ring-shaped cereal (like Cheerios) onto a pipe cleaner, bend it into a loop or fun shape, and hang it outside for birds to enjoy. This nearly prep-free craft works well for toddlers through elementary-aged children, takes about 10-20 minutes, and costs just a few dollars. It's a wonderful way to combine fine motor practice with a bit of backyard nature watching.

Why Cereal Bird Feeders Work So Well for Families

Sometimes the simplest projects end up being the most memorable. Cereal bird feeders check a lot of boxes that matter when you're crafting with little ones:

• Minimal mess: No glue guns, no paint splatters, no sticky situations
• Instant gratification: Kids can see their finished feeder within minutes
• Real-world purpose: There's something special about making something that actually gets used, by real birds, no less
• Skill-building sneakiness: Threading cereal onto pipe cleaners builds fine motor coordination without feeling like "practice"

Plus, once you hang the feeder outside, you've got a built-in excuse to peek out the window together and see who comes to visit.

Materials You'll Need

Here's everything required for this project, and yes, you can likely pull most of it from your pantry and junk drawer.

Total estimated cost: Under $10 (often under $5 if you already have cereal and ribbon on hand)

Age Ranges: Who Can Do This?

This craft adapts nicely across a wide age range:

Toddlers (ages 2-3): Can thread cereal with some help. Consider securing the pipe cleaner vertically to the table using a lump of play dough so little hands can focus on the threading motion without trying to hold everything steady.

Preschoolers (ages 3-5): Generally handle the threading independently and enjoy filling the entire pipe cleaner. They may need adult help twisting the ends together securely.

School-age kids (ages 6-10): Can complete the project start to finish and often enjoy experimenting with shapes, patterns, or combining multiple pipe cleaners for larger designs.

Time Estimate

• Prep time: About 2-3 minutes (just pour cereal into a bowl and gather materials)
• Craft time: 10-20 minutes depending on the child's age and how elaborate you get
• Total time: Under 30 minutes from start to hanging

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Your Pipe Cleaner

Take one pipe cleaner and bend back about two inches at one end. This creates a little "stopper" so your cereal doesn't slide right off the bottom while your child threads. Think of it like tying a knot at the end of a thread before sewing.

If you're working with a toddler, this is also the moment to stick the other end of the pipe cleaner into a ball of play dough or modeling clay on the table. It'll stand upright like a little flag pole, making threading much easier for small hands.

Step 2: Thread the Cereal

Here's where kids take the lead. Have your child pick up one piece of cereal at a time and slide it onto the pipe cleaner. They'll push it down toward the bent end and repeat until the pipe cleaner is mostly full.

A few threading tips:

• Leave about two inches bare at the top (you'll need this for shaping)
• Let kids go at their own pace, some will fill it up in two minutes, others will take their sweet time
• If pieces break, no big deal. Birds won't mind, and neither should we
• Mixing cereal types or colors can make patterns if your child is into that

The repetitive motion of picking up small objects and threading them onto a narrow stick is genuinely helpful for developing the hand-eye coordination kids will eventually use for writing, buttoning shirts, and countless other tasks.

Step 3: Shape Your Feeder

Once the pipe cleaner is full (with those two inches still bare at the top), it's time to create your shape.

For a simple circle: Bring both ends together and twist them around each other two or three times. Done!

For a heart shape: Bend the cereal-covered pipe cleaner in half, then curve each side outward to form the top bumps of a heart. Twist the ends together at the bottom point.

For other shapes: Stars, Christmas trees, and abstract squiggles all work. The birds won't judge your geometry.

Step 4: Add a Hanger

If you shaped your feeder into a circle, you can simply loop ribbon through it. For other shapes, you might twist a second pipe cleaner or ribbon around the top to create a hanging loop.

Cut a piece of ribbon about 12 inches long, thread it through the top of your feeder, and tie the ends together in a knot. Now you've got something ready to hang.

Step 5: Find the Right Spot

Head outside together and look for a good branch. Ideally, you want somewhere:

• Visible from a window (so you can watch for visitors)
• Not too exposed to wind and weather
• At a height where squirrels won't immediately demolish it (though honestly, squirrels usually find a way)

Hang your feeder, step back, and admire your work.

Helpful Tips for Success

Choose sturdy cereal: Plain Cheerios tend to hold up a bit better than sugar-coated varieties, though either works. Avoid anything too delicate that crumbles when touched.

Make extras: This project goes quickly, so having multiple pipe cleaners ready means kids can make two or three feeders in one sitting. Great for gifting to grandparents or neighbors.

Add variety: For older kids or adventurous crafters, you can thread other bird-friendly foods onto the pipe cleaner, small chunks of apple, bits of cheese, or raisins. An adult should poke holes in harder items first.

Time it right: Birds tend to be most active in early morning and late afternoon. Hanging your feeder before these times may increase your chances of spotting visitors sooner.

Manage expectations: Depending on your location and local bird population, it might take a few days before anyone discovers the new snack spot. Patience is part of the fun.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of cereal works for bird feeders?

Ring-shaped cereals like Cheerios, Fruit Loops, or store-brand equivalents work well because they're easy to thread. Plain varieties tend to be sturdier, but birds seem happy with either.

Is cereal actually safe for birds to eat?

Generally, yes. Plain, unsweetened cereals are considered safe for most backyard birds when offered occasionally. It shouldn't replace their regular diet of seeds and insects, but as a supplemental treat, it's typically fine.

How long will a cereal bird feeder last outside?

It depends on weather and bird traffic. In dry conditions, a feeder might last a week or more. Rain will cause the cereal to get soggy and break down faster: sometimes within a day or two.

Can we use something other than pipe cleaners?

You can thread cereal onto string or yarn, though it's trickier for small hands. Pipe cleaners are stiffer, which makes them easier for kids to control. Some crafters use thin wire, but that's better suited for older children due to sharp ends.

What birds might visit our cereal feeder?

Common visitors include sparrows, chickadees, finches, and sometimes cardinals or jays, depending on your region. Squirrels may also show interest.

My toddler keeps eating the cereal instead of threading it. Help?

Totally normal. You might pour out a small "eating bowl" and a separate "crafting bowl" so they can snack freely while still making progress on the project. Or embrace it: there's no rule that says every piece of cereal has to make it onto the feeder.

Can we make these for a birthday party or classroom activity?

These work wonderfully for groups. Set up a station with bowls of cereal, pipe cleaners, and ribbon. Each child can complete one in about 10-15 minutes, and they've got a take-home craft that's actually useful.

What if it rains right after we hang the feeder?

The cereal will get soggy and eventually fall apart. If rain is coming, you can bring the feeder inside temporarily or just accept that nature will do its thing. Making a new one takes minutes anyway.

Looking for more simple projects to do with your kids? Check out our Kids Crafts collection for dozens of ideas that won't break the bank or require a craft store run.

References:

1. Cereal bird feeder threading instructions and material recommendations
2. Fine motor skill development through threading activities for children